Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-09
CITY AND DISTRICT
WILLIE RUSSELI.,s DEATH.
A Coroner's Jury Render n Verdict of
Accidental ShoOting-A fearful Scene
NJ the Inquest.

Coroner Patterson this morning held an inoupsr
az Lees undertaking establishment, 332 Pennsyl-
Vania avenue, over the remains OF Willie Russell
Inc l0urteen-year-olds tepson of Gen. F. Wheaton
OF New Orleans who, as stated In Yesterdays
STAR, was shot through the heart and killed BY a
companion, Harry Adams, eleven years old the
grandson OF the Rev. Mr.. Phillips, 4OI New Jersey
avenue southeast. The following Jury were sum-
moned: Robert Hoy, W. r. Bryant, W. C. Cox, Ed
ward Flaherty, John Barnes, and Charles Polking-
horn
THE TESTIMONY.
The FIRST witness was Miss Mary Smith. who re-
sides at 4O4 9Th street southeast where the shoot
Ing occurred She stated that about II O'Clock
yesterday morning she heard pistol shot I'm the
naIiWay; the door OF her room was open, and she
stepped out and saw smoke and two little boys.
Doth OF whom were near the front-hall door. One
Tell on his knee and said he was shot, and at the
same tlme ne put pistol, which he held In his
hand, In his pocket. TO the question of w hat was
the matter, the other boy said that they were
playing with the pistols and one was accidentally
discharged. AT the same time he came toward
her, and the boy who was shot rose from his knees
ana n followed, saying; ayes, 1t was accidental"
hts arms, and then he fen TO the floor. He lived
oot short time, his stepfather arriving just be-
Miss Josephine winston, a colored girl, living in
Che house. testified that she was down stairs In
tne kitchen, and when she heard the pistol shot
She ran up stairs, and when she got In the hall
she heard Willie Russell say I'm shot" She also
heard him say that he was shot accidentally. She
was told 70 go out and get police officer, and
Harry Adams ran out to tell WilIe'S father. When
Harry returned, some time afterwards with an
officer, he was crying and said that the deceased
was his best friend
HARRY ADAMS STORY.
Hairy Adams was then questioned, and although
at times his voice was choked with emotion, he
told his story In a straightforward manly way
He IS bright-lOokiDg boy, and his mother who
stood oy his Side with handkerchief covering his
eyes, while he told his story, said that he was
only eleven years OF age. Harry said: "Wili and
] were playing together and VIII went up TO the
house 10 see his pistol and i went along. When
got there wanted 10 show my pistol to VIII, and
when 1 took II out OF my pocket it went OFF. 1t
know how, and IL went off without my knowing IL.
When Will was shot. asked the ladies in the
house they wanted NE 70 go after Mr.. Wheaton,
and went to his Office and told him. and then
said that could not stand il, and went home" In
reply TO question, ne said he meant that he felt
% badly. He said that they did not intend to go
out into the country. They went up 10 the house
U see the pistols. His uncle had given him the
pistol several weeks ago.
Mrs. Adams said that she never knew Harry to
carry the pistol. His uncle had given IL to him as
pretty toy some time ago, and she had the loads
Wlthdrawn and had laid 1t away. She did not
know that Harry had taken il. In reply to QueS-
ton Harry said that he had loaded the pistol him
SELF that morning.
Miss Cleo Smith, who lives In the house where
the shooting occurred. corrObOraJed the facts Of
the shooting as given by the other witnesses
NO.1urther witnesses were called. Gen. Whea-
ton, accompanied by eX-RepreSentative T. John
Ellis and the father or Mrs. Adams, and others,
were present, but as they knew nothing further
than the facts already before the jury they were
not examined.
THE VERDICT.
The jury rendered the following verdict: "That
the said Willie Russell came to his death from
pistol shot wound in the left chest inflicted with
pistol held In the hands OF Harry Adams, aged IL
years. From the evidence We believe the shoot
Ing TO have been purely accidental, and WITH
out malace or intent TO do bodily harm"
The remains OF Willie Russell will be inferred at
the congressional Cemetery this afternoon. After
the jury had gone out, Coroner Patterson called in
MIS- Adams. the mother Of Harry, to private
room and spoke TO her OF the danger OF allowing
He said nothing to Harry, who seemed to be very
much affected